Method and system for providing accompanying explanation for a disabled action in a graphic user interface

Abstract

A method for providing explanatory text in a graphic user interface is provided. An action is selected to be included in the graphic user interface. It is determined if the action is in a disabled state and explanatory text is provided in the graphic user interface for the action in the disabled state.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for providing explanatory text in a graphic user interface comprising; 
 selecting an action to be included in the graphic user interface;    determining if the action is in a disabled state; and    providing explanatory text in the graphic user interface for the action in the disabled state.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 disabling the action.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 gathering a plurality of actions.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 determining if the action is in an enabled state; and  
 providing explanatory text in the graphic user interface for the action in an enabled state.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 enabling the action.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 generating explanatory text that explains why the action is in the disabled state.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing explanatory text to a user, comprising: 
 gathering a plurality of actions;    selecting an evaluated action from the plurality of actions;    determining an enablement state of the evaluated action; and    providing explanatory text to the user based on the enablement state of the evaluated action.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 determining if the evaluated action implements an interface.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the evaluated action does not implement the interface, further comprising: 
 enabling the evaluated action; and  
 indicating to the user that the evaluated action is enabled.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the evaluated action implements the interface, further comprising; 
 disabling the evaluated action; and  
 indicating to the user that the evaluated action is disabled.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the evaluated action provides a separate object to implement the interface, further comprising: 
 disabling the evaluated action; and  
 indicating to the user that the evaluated action is disabled.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 selecting a subsequent action from the plurality of actions;  
 determining an enablement state of the subsequent action; and  
 providing explanatory text to the user based on the enablement state of the subsequent action.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising 
 providing an enablement list of actions and corresponding enablement states; and  
 comparing the evaluated action to the enablement list.  
 
     
     
         14 . Computer program product in a computer usable medium for providing explanatory text to a user, comprising: 
 computer program code that gathers a plurality of actions;    computer program code that selects an evaluated action from the plurality of actions;    computer program code that determines an enablement state of the evaluated action; and    computer program code that provides explanatory text to the user based on the enablement state of the evaluated action.    
     
     
         15 . The program of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 computer program code that determines if the evaluated action implements an interface.  
 
     
     
         16 . The program of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 computer program code that disables the evaluated action; and    computer program code that indicates to the user that the evaluated action is disabled.    
     
     
         17 . The program of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 computer program code that selects a subsequent action from the plurality of actions;  
 computer program code that determines an enablement state of the subsequent action; and  
 computer program code that provides explanatory text to the user based on the enablement state of the subsequent action.  
 
     
     
         18 . The program of  claim 14  further comprising 
 computer program code that provides an enablement list of actions and corresponding enablement states; and  
 computer program code that compares the evaluated action to the enablement list.  
 
     
     
         19 . The program of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 computer program code that creates the explanatory text.  
 
     
     
         20 . A system for outputting information to a user, comprising: 
 a first output interface wherein the first output interface includes at least one disabled option, the disabled option capable of being indicated by a user; and    a second output interface wherein the second output interface appears when the disabled option is indicated by the user.    
     
     
         21 . The system of claim  20  wherein the second output interface is a graphic user interface including text that explains why the disabled option is disabled.